Atlanta mayor latest to ban city travel to North Carolina

ATLANTA (AP) — The mayor of Atlanta is joining other city and state officials in banning taxpayer-funded travel to North Carolina over its new law preventing specific anti-discrimination rules for gay and transgender people for public accommodations and restroom use.

Local news outlets report Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced Monday he has ordered city employees to halt non-essential trips to North Carolina because of what he called “discriminatory and unnecessary legislation.”

The North Carolina law responded to a Charlotte city ordinance approved in February that would have extended protections to gays and lesbians as well as bisexual and transgender people while at hotels, restaurants and stores.